May 24, 2013
Presbyterian Response to the Oklahoma TornadoPlease read here for further information on how you can help.
TWO MORE WAYS TO RESPOND WITH ASSISTANCE FOR OKLAHOMA TORNADO RELIEF |
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church-Jefferson City!
Hey, what’s up? Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of JC. I’m Zac, the new Associate Pastor of Youth and Contemporary Worship. I’ve only been in Jefferson City and part of the FPC family for about 6 months, but I can tell you that I am very excited to be here because there are a lot of new, fresh and exciting things happening at FPC that you just need to come check out! There is renewed energy and excitement in our middle school (mid-high) and high school (senior high) ministries. We have separate mid-high and senior high groups that gather weekly to have fun hanging out, eating food, playing games, and talking about faith through popular music, YouTube videos, and other media. We also have lock-ins, take trips to Kansas City and St. Louis, serve our JC community (i.e. serve meals at Salvation Army, trash pick-ups, buying Christmas gifts for families in need), as well as take mission trips and summer trips across the country. However, more important than our programming are the relationships we form with each other, and at FPC we care about each and every youth we encounter, so even if a youth is too busy to come to our organized activities, we will come support them in their activities. So during the school year you may run into me at TJMS, LCMS, or JCHS (and even some Helias) band/choir concerts, athletic events, and other youth activities cheering on our youth or in the schools bringing treats to our hardworking youth. You may have even seen me at Jefferson City High School’s Baccalaureate on May 12 of this year as I was the guest preacher giving support and empowering the graduating seniors of Jefferson City. There is also a fresh excitement for worship at FPC, contemporary worship in particular. Every Sunday at 5:00 pm we have Sunday Night Live worship service. This is a contemporary/alternative service that is experiential and interactive. We use media, drama, and congregation participation to experience God and God’s message for our lives in different ways. Our music is led by a praise band that plays all styles of music and is open to anyone who wants to use their musical gifts to worship God, but we also have guest musicians and bands play periodically such as Sunny Side, Two Car Pile-up, and the Ugandan Children’s Choir. While worship at Sunday Night Live is almost never the same each week, our focus and excitement for coming together to praise God, experience God, and share God with the world never changes. If contemporary worship isn’t your thing, FPC also has vibrant traditional worship services every Sunday morning at 8:30 and 10:45. There are many more exciting and fresh things happening at FPC. We have a newly organized Retired Adult Fellowship (RAF) group that meets monthly and does different activities and trips together; like youth group for God’s older children. We are also beginning a young adult group that at this time is very informal and meets periodically to just hangout and have fun. Mission is a big and exciting part of life at FPC. We have partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, the Samaritan Center, Agape House the Salvation Army Center of Hope; as well as with Presbyterian/Reformed churches in Hungary, Ukraine, Malawi and the Amazon jungle of Peru; and everyone is invited and encouraged to take be active in these mission opportunities! There is Sunday School for all ages on Sunday mornings at 9:30 (but not during the summer) and Bible Studies that happen throughout the week in and outside of the church. There is a lot more that I can share with you but I will leave you with this: faith, growth, and experiencing God begin with relationships, and at First Presbyterian, those relationships begin with your first step in the door. When my wife and I first arrived, we were welcomed as if we had been lifelong members, and in my first six months here, every visitor I have seen has been welcomed in the same way. At FPC, I promise you will experience the love of God. As I said above, you just need to come check us out and experience the presence of God at First Presbyterian Church for yourself! See you soon! Pastor Zac Wolfe Associate Pastor for Youth and Contemporary Worship
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